Adab al-Mufrad

Benefits and Issues:
➊ From this hadith, it is understood that backbiting (ghibah) is a major sin (kabirah), because the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has called it a major sin.
➋ The meaning of your statement, “They are not being punished for a major sin,” is that it was not something from which it was difficult for them to abstain; rather, if they had wished, they could have avoided it.
➌ From this, it is understood that the punishment of the grave is a reality, and those who deny it dwell in the paradise of fools.
➍ The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam being informed of their punishment is a miracle of his. In one hadith, he said: “If I did not fear that you would stop burying your dead, I would have prayed to Allah that He make you hear the punishment of the grave.” (Sahih Muslim, al-Jannah wa Na‘imuha, Hadith: 2868)
➎ In one narration, tale-bearing (namimah) is mentioned; there is no contradiction between the two narrations, because backbiting is also included in tale-bearing. Tale-bearing is to convey someone’s words to another with the intention of causing discord.
➏ Now, what is the ruling on placing green branches on graves? There is a difference of opinion on this; however, the preferred view is that this was a particularity (khasiyyah) of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and it is not correct to do so now. This is supported by the following points:
1. After the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the Rightly Guided Caliphs (khulafa’ rashidun) and the majority of the Companions (sahabah) considered it a particularity of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and did not regard it as a sunnah for the ummah.
2. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was informed about their punishment, whereas we do not know what is happening to the occupant of the grave. Therefore, if he is a believer, it is ill-thinking (su’ al-dhann) to assume he is being punished.
3. These branches were not the cause of the lessening of punishment; rather, it was your intercession (shafa‘ah) that was the cause, which was limited to the time the branches remained fresh. As for the explanation that green branches glorify Allah, this is not correct, because every dry and moist thing glorifies Allah.
➐ There are two forms of not protecting oneself from urine:
1. Not protecting oneself from urine splashes.
2. Not taking care to conceal oneself while urinating.